'Stop religious tension with talks'

'Stop religious tension with talks'

SEMARANG (JP): Scholars agree that extensive discussions
between religious leaders are needed to reduce tension among
their followers.

Unfortunately, "such dialog is still limited," Jaka Sutapa
from the Duta Wacana Christian University in Yogyakarta said
recently. He blamed the situation on the trauma left by religious
conflicts in the past.

"It's difficult to ask leaders of any religion to initiate
dialogs with other religions," he said on Tuesday. "At present,
such dialogs are always sponsored by the government."

Indonesia recognizes five religions: the majority Islam,
Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Protestantism.

Through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the government has
set up the Institute of Studies on Religious Harmony which aims
to find ways to facilitate the campaign for a peaceful,
harmonious co-existence among religions in the country.

Djamanhuri, of the Yogyakarta-based State Institute for
Islamic Studies Sunan Kalijaga, said open dialogs between
intellectuals would help reduce religious conflicts, which often
have political overtones.

"Many religious conflicts which have occurred in the past few
years were caused by political differences rather than by
theological questions," he said.

Religious conflicts are aggravated once they are linked to
political issues, he said.

Indonesia experienced an unprecedented number of religious and
racial riots last year across the country, including several in
East Timor, Irian Jaya and in West and Central Java.

Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung has indicated
recently that separatist groups in East Timor, Irian Jaya and
Aceh are exploiting religious issues to further their agendas.

"They are using religion to justify their causes," Feisal has
said.

East Timor is a predominantly Roman Catholic territory, Irian
Jaya is Christian while Aceh has a staunch Islamic community. The
government is facing armed insurgencies in all three provinces.
(har/01)